Second chance: Wojciech Szczesny wants to regain his old No1 spot at Arsenal

Arsenal £15m talks on brink of collapse as alternative player identified - report

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Published on:

23 Jul 2016, 3:08 am

By London correspondent Tony Hughes

Arsenal talks with Roma about a £15million deal for Wojciech Szczesny are on the brink of collapse, according to a report.

Sky Sports Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has claimed on his website that the two clubs have yet to reach an agreement following extensive discussions.

It is said that Roma are now monitoring the situation of AC Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez, who has been linked with a summer move to Chelsea.

Lopez has been waiting for Asmir Begovic to leave Chelsea, which has opened the door for Roma to make a move for the 34-year-old former Real Madrid keeper.

The Express, citing Sky Sports Italy, claimed earlier this month that Szczesny would be allowed to leave Arsenal for a fee in the region of £15million.

The 26-year-old goalkeeper spent the 2015-16 on loan in Italy at Roma, making 34 appearances under both Rudi Garcia and Luciano Spalletti as the club finished third.

Roma are keen to make the deal permanent, with Italian outlet Gazza Mercato declaring that talks between the Italian and English clubs have taken place this month.

Szczesny's route back into the Gunners side has been blocked by Petr Cech, with Arsene Wenger expected to stick with the veteran goalkeeper as his number one next season.

The Poland international has publicly stated his desire to join Roma permanently and has praised the coaching of Spalletti's staff as superior to that of the Arsenal backroom team.

Szczesny, who has been capped 27 times by his country, started out at Legia Warsaw before moving to Arsenal aged 16 and has subsequently made 181 senior appearances under Arsene Wenger.

The former Brentford loanee was included in Poland's Euro 2016 squad but made only one appearance after falling down the pecking order behind former Arsenal teammate Lukasz Fabianski.

In other Arsenal transfer news, Wenger has completed a move for this Japanese youngster.

Arsenal

Wojciech Szczesny